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Syntax Issue 10
Denver Syntax
{how to stalk}
  henry gray


HOW TO BE A GOOD STALKER AND GET AWAY WITH IT Difficulty: Moderate

If you don't think that stalking is a discipline with definite techniques, movements and skills that require both practice and patience - then you've never done it. This article is for the novice as well as veteran that hasn't has had an ex-girl/boyfriend to stalk for awhile and needs to brush-up on his techniques.

METHOD OF OPERATION

LIST YOUR GOALS
First of all, why are you doing this? You need a pretty good reason: To say to yourself, and also to the cops, and most likely to the judge. Typically, obsession leads to jail time. Always, always have a reason. Especially when facing your wife, even if you are in handcuffs.

Creating a list is a good place to start building your liar's web.

Even after that, when you are performing a stake-out and/or standing in someone's curtains sucking-in your gut and pretending that you are invisible - you will have a lot of time to kill. Create reasons then, too. Especially then. It'll give you something to do and, you'll need to keep your mind sharp while you are on the stalk-out.

Make a list of what you are looking to uncover about this person. Are you looking to blackmail them? Or, are you just fascinated with colors of underwear? Do you want to uncover what that particular somebody does while they are not returning your phone calls? Do you want to get to know your ex-boyfriend's new fling so that you can torture her with all-too-personal/creepy anonymous verbal tirades?

This list will make your research into his life more organized.

ACQUIRE BASIC INFORMATION
Get the target's address. Nothing worse than breaking into someone's house, have them come home and you crawl under their bed only to find out that you're actually in the high school janitor's home. Nonetheless trapped for the next 12 hours under his bed. Ever felt intestinal gas reverberate in a mattress?

But knowing too much creates a problem for you, when you have to take a lie detector. It's best not to know too much about the target.

DO THE LEGWORK
If you need to know where your target lives, follow him/her from work. If you need to know where you target works, follow him/her from home. See where they go during the day, before work and after work. You might just uncover the necessary dirt that you need - i.e., they are sneaker-sniffers at the local gym. In this, trees are your best friend - know where your large obstacles are. Know what you can duck behind , and what you can't. Just because you can't see your target, doesn't mean they can't see you.

Always act like you are going somewhere. Act like you know the terrain.

If you act like you're just doing your usual routine, they won't think he's being followed. If you take off running as soon as the target turns around, they'll wonder why and raise suspicion. However most people aren't very observant so this shouldn't be much of a problem, if you just keep your distance.

BRING GLOVES
Rummaging through your target's trash is a dirty job but every stalker has to do it. You might discover he loves Hungry Man fried chicken TV dinners, but you won't learn much else. And if you get caught, his family may call the cops and your cover would be blown.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
When you’re stalking, the slightest bit of air can carry your scent to the person you’re after. But it’s very difficult to determine the precise direction of a light breeze.

To solve this simply place 4 or 5 tablespoons of fine white ash from a campfire into a small porous burlap bag, such as a tobacco pouch (the kind that’s sold for roll-your-own cigarettes). When you want to know what the wind is doing, just remove the bag from your pocket and give it a quick shake. A puff of “smoke” will sift out into the air and show exactly, not approximately, what the air is doing, even when you can’t detect any wind movement at all. To keep your pocket clean, store the pouch in a sandwich bag.

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Step slowly, very slowly - about one step per minute.

STEP 2: Keep all of your body movement slow and fluid; avoid abrupt or shaky movements.

STEP 3: Keep your body low and compressed.

STEP 4: Lift your knees high to maintain balance as you take each slow step.

STEP 5: Set your foot down on the outside ball of your foot, keeping your weight entirely on the other foot.

STEP 6: Roll your forward foot to the inside ball of the foot.

STEP 7: Lower your heel and then, slowly, transfer your weight from your back foot to your front foot.

STEP 8: Keep the target directly in the center of your vision at all times.

STEP 9: Squint your eyes and avoid showing your teeth when you are 10 feet or less from your target. Teeth are bright, especially at night.

STEP 10: Move very, very slowly.

TIPS AND WARNINGS

If you feel a branch or a leaf when lowering your foot, lift your foot and place it down where the ground is clear. Twigs snapping and leaves crunching can give away your position. Transfer your weight only when your foot is set safely down.

Going barefoot or wearing moccasin-type footwear is best for stalking.

Learning how a cat stalks its prey is the best means by which to learn the developed tactics that will ensure your success.

Try not to touch your target. This is just professional courtesy. But, if you have to, don't, when they are in their home - this will certainly ruin everything. In public you may be able to get away with brushing up against them - but try to keep your hands in your pockets. And please, don't buck your groin outward, ever. Under any circumstances. Stalking is done out of anger and jealousy and rage. Not sexual thrills.